Free Republic

At least one person is dead after central Vermont was pummeled by severe flooding. The remnants of Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall in Texas Monday, unleashed torrential rain across the Northeast. Between two and six inches of rain fell, leaving some communities fighting against surging floodwaters. Flood rapids wreaked havoc, prompting road closures and causing widespread damage. Plainfield officials say at least seven bridges were taken out. Residents of a six-unit apartment building had just 15 minutes to evacuate before the entire structure was swept away. One person died in the Peacham community, according to Vermont Governor Phil Scott.

A giant yellow rubber duck floating on Nanming River in China's south-west Guizhou Province has reportedly been swept away by floodwaters just months after it exploded on display in Taiwan. The 18m (59ft) sculpture by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman disappeared around 19:00 local time on Wednesday, after the city saw days of heavy rainfall, the Taiwan-based Want China Times reports. Even though the duck weighs 1 tonne, and was sitting on a 10 tonne metal platform lashed to the riverbed with steel wires, it was easily dislodged by the storm. "The duck flopped over and was flushed away really quickly...

<p>The voters yesterday raised the bar on performance in California government. When we elect somebody as leader, they emphatically told Gov. Gray Davis, we expect him to lead.</p> <p>We want a governor who wakes up every morning worrying about our lives, not his own career. We want a governor who listens to average citizens, not just the lobbyists and campaign contributors at the state Capitol.</p>